Dalai Lama blames suicide protests on Chinese 'cultural genocide'

The Dalai Lama has blamed a recent wave of Tibetan self-immolations on a
policy of “cultural genocide” being carried out by the Chinese government.

Analysts said the Dalai Lama was seeking to avoid a political vacuum after his death, when Tibetans will have to identify his reincarnated successorPhoto: REUTERS

2:10PM GMT 07 Nov 2011

Eight Buddhist monks and two nuns have set themselves alight in ethnically Tibetan parts of China’s Sichuan province since the death of a young monk in March sparked a government crackdown.

“Chinese communist propaganda create a very rosy picture. But actually, including many Chinese from mainland China who visit Tibet, they all have the impression things are terrible,” the Dalai Lama said.

“Some kind of policy, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place,” the 76-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader said, in comments that are likely to rile Beijing.

“(In the) last 10, 15 years, there were some kind of hardliner Chinese officials. So that’s why you see these sad incidents have happened due to this desperate sort of situation.”

Activists say that at least five monks and two nuns have died from their injuries and that Chinese police have at times responded by beating the burning protesters and their colleagues rather than providing assistance.